Any Blenny lovers?? Need some help please!!

mikesommers · 08/28/2008, 08:47 PM

I have a Red Lipped Blenny. I have had him going on 3 years. He is about 5. The last 4 months he has lost weight. He still eats like a lion but looks bad around his stomach area. He used to be fat. I can hand feed him. I would like to get some weight back on him before I loose him. He his like a dog to us. He has been every were and a part of every tank as our tanks have gotten larger. I do not know there life span but feel that he has a lot of life left in him. Any ideas on how to get some weight back on him would be great.

ACBlinky · 08/28/2008, 09:45 PM

He could very well be an old fish -- I know some gobies have quite a short lifespan, not sure about blennies, but five years old could be reasonable for such a small fish.

What is he eating? Any exposure to new fish? If you've recently added another fish that was/is carrying intestinal parasites, the blenny may have contracted the parasites. If this is the case, you could treat him in a QT and he should get better. If nothing has changed and he's eating both meat and vegetable fare but slowly losing condition, I'm not sure what to suggest.

Blennies are wonderful, personable, funny little fish and I can understand how after three years you'd be attached to him like any other pet. I hope he recovers, good luck.

seapug · 08/28/2008, 10:26 PM

What are you feeding? You might try switching to a higher fat/protein food. PE Mysis will turn any fish into a porker before long.

jhentr · 08/28/2008, 10:37 PM

Wow, looking at my LMB, I can't imagine a skinny blenny in a tank. Hope your's pull thru. Is it still take algae off the rocks? Hows it's poop. Even though mines eat a variety of flakes/pellets/frozen, it's poop is still green from the majority of algae it digest.

mikesommers · 08/29/2008, 10:19 PM

He eats Spirulina inriched brine. He has been eating it for 3 years. All my fish love it and have lived long on it. He has always been fat. No new fish that he has not been around. Everyone looks great. He is very active and eats just like he always has just lost weight. Do not get to see him poop have never really seen him poop. He is almost 4" long. I really think it is going to be an age thing. I will try the PE Mysis do you have a suggestion on were to get it. Thanks for all the help.

Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!!

mikesommers · 08/29/2008, 10:27 PM

Is it possible for him to have lost weight going from 29 gallon tank to a 75. Maybe a stupid question but larger tank and more exercise???? Just a thought. I will try the PE Mysis.

08/28/2008, 08:47 PM	#1
mikesommers Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ATL. GA. Posts: 393	Any Blenny lovers?? Need some help please!! I have a Red Lipped Blenny. I have had him going on 3 years. He is about 5. The last 4 months he has lost weight. He still eats like a lion but looks bad around his stomach area. He used to be fat. I can hand feed him. I would like to get some weight back on him before I loose him. He his like a dog to us. He has been every were and a part of every tank as our tanks have gotten larger. I do not know there life span but feel that he has a lot of life left in him. Any ideas on how to get some weight back on him would be great. __________________ 6yrs in hobby and still learning everyday! 90 Gallon SPS Dominate Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon AGA-RR with 40 gallon sump

08/28/2008, 09:45 PM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	He could very well be an old fish -- I know some gobies have quite a short lifespan, not sure about blennies, but five years old could be reasonable for such a small fish. What is he eating? Any exposure to new fish? If you've recently added another fish that was/is carrying intestinal parasites, the blenny may have contracted the parasites. If this is the case, you could treat him in a QT and he should get better. If nothing has changed and he's eating both meat and vegetable fare but slowly losing condition, I'm not sure what to suggest. Blennies are wonderful, personable, funny little fish and I can understand how after three years you'd be attached to him like any other pet. I hope he recovers, good luck. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

08/28/2008, 10:26 PM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	What are you feeding? You might try switching to a higher fat/protein food. PE Mysis will turn any fish into a porker before long. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

08/29/2008, 10:19 PM	#5
mikesommers Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ATL. GA. Posts: 393	He eats Spirulina inriched brine. He has been eating it for 3 years. All my fish love it and have lived long on it. He has always been fat. No new fish that he has not been around. Everyone looks great. He is very active and eats just like he always has just lost weight. Do not get to see him poop have never really seen him poop. He is almost 4" long. I really think it is going to be an age thing. I will try the PE Mysis do you have a suggestion on were to get it. Thanks for all the help. Happy Reefing!!!!!!!!!! __________________ 6yrs in hobby and still learning everyday! 90 Gallon SPS Dominate Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon AGA-RR with 40 gallon sump

08/29/2008, 10:27 PM	#6
mikesommers Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ATL. GA. Posts: 393	Is it possible for him to have lost weight going from 29 gallon tank to a 75. Maybe a stupid question but larger tank and more exercise???? Just a thought. I will try the PE Mysis. __________________ 6yrs in hobby and still learning everyday! 90 Gallon SPS Dominate Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon AGA-RR with 40 gallon sump

08/28/2008, 10:37 PM	#4
jhentr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Inland Empire, Ca Posts: 559	Wow, looking at my LMB, I can't imagine a skinny blenny in a tank. Hope your's pull thru. Is it still take algae off the rocks? Hows it's poop. Even though mines eat a variety of flakes/pellets/frozen, it's poop is still green from the majority of algae it digest.